Carton dispenser



June 6, 1961 R. E. MATTEsoN 2,987,219

CARTON DISPENSER Filed Sept. 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Russell E.Moteson RNEY R. E. MATTESON 2,987,219

CARTON DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 6, 1961 Filed Sept. 16, 1958 Km.@Rm

ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,987,219 CARTON DISPENSER Russell E.Matteson, Morris, Ill., assignor to Diamond National Corporation, acorporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 16, 1958, Ser. No. 761,308 8 Claims.(Cl. 22175) The present invention relates to a carton dispenser, andmore particularly to such a dispenser that is combined with a chute thatis capable of holding a large number of cartons and that dispenses thecartons in successive groups by gravity.

In the packaging of eggs, it is the present practice to establish an eggroom in which a large number of workers are employed to handle and gradeeggs that are received in bulk from egg producers. The egg can# dlerspick up three or four eggs in each hand from a bulk supply of eggs,candle them swiftly and place them in appropriate egg cartons, eachcarton conventionally holding one dozen eggs and each carton receivingeggs of a particular size and grade. As the egg candlers work veryswiftly, it is necessary that they be` able to have the necessary onedozen size egg cartons quickly available to them, and it has been foundthat the' best manner of thus servicing the egg candlers is to providethem with dispensers for the egg cartons, these dispensers holding aquantity of the cartons and dispensing them when operated by the eggcandlers.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser Vforcartons or the like that can be readily made in any one of various sizesin order to hold various size cartons or other articles.

, Another Yobject of the present invention is the provision of adispenser requiring a minimum of space, and particularly a minimum ofspace in the horizontal plane. Y

p A further object of the present invention is to provide a dispensercapable of holding a large supply of cartons.V

'Yet another object of the present invention is the provision' of adispenser which can be loaded from the top and which dispenses thearticles or cartons from the bottom, thus permittingthe lling of thedispenser by aY person other-than the dispenser operator or egg candler.v

A still further object of the present invention is to provide adispenser that is extremely simple in construction and economical tomanufacture and that has a very small number of readily fabricatedparts.V

Other objects and the natureand advantages of the instant invention willbe apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a dispenser in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG.,2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the parts shown in the circle3 of IFIG. 2`.

FIG. 4 isa section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like referencecharacters areused-to designate like or corresponding parts throughout theseveralviews, there is shown4 in FIG. 1 a dispenser 10 comprising achute including a pair of inwardly facing spaced channels y11 and 12.Channel 11 is shown in FIG. 4 in cross-section, and it will beunderstood that channel 12 is generally similar thereto. Channel 111 maybe seen to have a front wall 13, a side wall =14 and a rear wall 15, thelatter having a. free, edge r16 that forms a guide for articles to bedispensed. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the articleto be dispensed comprises an egg 2,987,219 liatented June 6, 1961 ICCfree guiding edge for cooperation with a similar inden-` tation on theother side of the carton 17.

A vertically extending shaft 20 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) is rotatablysupported in the channel 11 and has a bevel gear 21 secured thereto,gear 21 meshing with a similar bevel gear 22 that is secured to ahorizontal handle shaft 23, handle shaft 23 extending through the frontwall 13 of channel 1'1 and having a handle 24 on the outer end thereof.

A plurality of dispenser mechanisms 25 are operated by the shaft 20, andit will be understood that the dispenser mechanisms 25 are preferablyidentical and that thereV may be any number of them associated with thedispenser 10. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, and as maybe seen from FIG. 2, there are three such dispenser mechanisms 25 in thedispenser 10.

Each dispenser mechanism 25, see FIGS. 3 and 4, may be seen to comprisea carrier shaft 26 extending horizontally across the front of thedispenser 10 and within the front walls of the channels thereof. Thecarrier shaft`26 has its ends journaled in the side walls of thechannels 1-1 and 12 and has a bracket 27 secured inwardly of andadjacent the opposite ends of the shaft 26 (only one( being shown). Asmay be seen from FIG. 4, bracket 27 is secured to carrier shaft 26adjacent the end Vthereof and extends towards the rear of channel'11. Ahorizontally disposed retaining bar 28 is supported at one end by thebracket 27, and it will be understood that the otherv end of retainingbar 28 (not shown, see FIG. 1) that lies within the channel 12 issupported by a similar bracket that is secured adjacent the end`ofcarrier shaft 26 that is suitably journaled in the side Wall of channely12 in any suitable manner.

An arm extends rearwardly from the bracket 27 and carries an upwardlyextending arcuate stop member or portion 30, stop member '30 being partof a circle circumscribed about the axis of carrier shaft 26 as acenter. In the full line position shown in FIG. 3, the free end ofarcuate stop member 30 is in contact with the' inner side of front Wall13 of channel 11.

Fixed to the vertically extending shaft 20 is a collar 32 having aradial slot 33 therein. A spring 34 is connected at one end to theretaining bar 28 and at the other end to an upper part 0f the front wall13 of channel 11, and thus continually exerts an upward pull on theretaining bar 28.

In operation, the dispenser 10 is loaded from the top by placing a groupof the cartons 17 in the top with the indentations 17 being guided bythe rear free edges of the channels 11 and 12. The first group ofcartons will have the flap portions 17, see FIGS 3 and 4, rest on thetopmost retaining bar 28. 'I'he handle 24 will be turned to rotate theshaft 20 through the bevel gears 21 and' 22 and this will cause therotation of a collar 32 xed on the lower end of shaft 20 in substantialhorizontal alignment with the shaft 28 until a radial slot 33 thereofunder-lies the arm 29. When this happens, the weight of the group ofcartons on the retaining bar 28 will cause the retaining bar 28 to pivotagainst the action of a vertically extending tension spring 34 suitablyanchored at its lower end by a cotter pin 34" extending diametricallythrough the shaft 28, see FIGS. 3 and 4, to the position shown in dottedlines in FIG. 3. This function will occur inasmuch as the retaining bar28 is offset relative to the pivot axis of rod 26, see FIGS. 3 and 4.Thus, retaining bar 28 will be moved out of the path of the group ofcartons 17 and will no longer support the group of cartons 17 and thusthey will be permitted to descend by gravity. Once the lirst group ofcartons 17 has passed they uppermost retaining bar 2-8, the spring 34willcause the retainingbar 28, arm 29 and arcuate stop 30 to rerotatecounter-clockwise about the axis of carrier shaft 26 and to thus drawarcuate stop member 30 through theslot 33. Thereafter, the handle 24will be further rotated to cause misalignment of slot 33 and arm 29.

The Erst group of cartons will be brought to rest by the retaining bar2S of the second dispenser mechanism 25, and a second group of cartons17 may be loaded into the top of the dispenser as before, and the handleagain rotated to now advance the two groups of cartons 17 to the next orlower dispenser mechanism 25. Thus, all three groups of cartons 17 canbe loaded quickly with a great many cartons.V

To remove a group of cartons 17 from the bottom of the dispenser, thehandle 24 is turned in the manner above described to cause alignment ofslot 33 with the arm 29 as above described, and there will then bedispensed one ofthe groups of cartons 17.

It will be understood that the radial slots 33 in the three collars 32are not in vertical alignment, but instead are in staggered relationshipso that the bottom dispenser mechanism 25 is the first one to have theslots 33 and the arm Z9 come into alignment. Thereafter, the other twodispensers mechanisms 25 are permitted to operate in upward sequence dueto the staggered relation of the slots 33.

There has been provided a simple and economical dispenserhavingrrelatively few parts and requiring very little room. Thedispenser of the present invention can hold articles of various shapesand sizes and can hold a suiiiciently large number of articles so thatfrequent replenishment of the dispenser will not be necessary.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention and thereforethe invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings anddescribed in the specification but only as indicated in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is: Y

l. A dispenser comprising a vertically extending chute including a pairof opposed spaced channels including free edge portions -for formingguides for articles to be dispensed in a vertical path of travel, avertically extending shaft rotatably supported in one of said channels,a horizontal handle shaft extending. through a portion of said onechannel and towards saidvertically extending shaft, said handle s hafthaving a handle at one end thereof, said shafts having meshing bevelgears to afford a driving relationship therebetween, and a pluralityofvertically spaced dispenser mechanisms on saidV chute, each ofsaiddispenser ,mechanisms comprising a carrier shaft extendingVhorizontally across saidchute and having opposite ends journaledV on,said channels, arbracket on the carrier shaft adjacent the ends thereofand extending radially intosaid chute toward the path of travel of;saidVarticle, a retaining bar carried by said brackets and extendingVparallel to and offset from said carrier shaft, one of said bracketsincluding anarm extending radially .therefromV andincluding an upwardlyextending arcuateV stop member having a terminal end portion Yabuttinglyengageable on said chute for positioning said rretaining bar in asubstantially horizontal article-supporting position, a horizontallydisposed collar on said vertically extending shaft rotatable beneathsaid stop 4member and having a radial slot opening into one edge thereofand alignable with said stop member to permit said stop member to movedownwardly therethrough in response to the weight of articles restingon( said retaining bar, preventing rotation of said collar anclVverticalV shaft and permitting said articles to move in said path of.travel, and aspring on said chute connected to said retaining bar to.urge the same. and said stop member upwardly after a group of articleshave passed thereby whereby the terminal end of said stop memberabuttngly engages said chute and disposes the retaining bar in ahorizontal position, said slots in the collars of the dispensermechanisms being in out-of-phase, angularly offset relationshippermitting the dispenser mechanisms td serially advance groups ofarticles. successively through said chute.

2. A dispenser for a vertical stack of articles` compris- Y ing avertically extending chute includingy a pair of opposed spaced channelsdeiining aY vertical path of travel for the articles to be dispensed, avertically extending shaft journaled on said chute adjacent one of saidchannels, a horizontal handle shaft extending through said one channeland towards said vertically extending shaft, said handle shaft includingaV handle at one end, said shafts including meshing gears thereonto-elfect a drivingl relationship therebetween, and a plurality ofvertically spaced dispenser mechanisms on said chute, each of saidVdispenser mechanisms comprising a carrier shaft extending horizontallyacross said chute out of the path of? travel of said articles and havingopposite ends journaled on said channels, a bracket on said carriershaft adjacent each end thereof and extending into the chute to-A wardthe path of travel of said articles, a retaining bar on said bracketsand extending parallelV to and offset fromsaid carrier shaft, one ofsaid brackets including an extending radially towards said path oftravel and including a vertically extending stop member including aterminal end portion abuttingly engageable with said chute forpositioning said retaining bar in a substantially horizontal position, ahorizontally disposed collar ou saidvertically extending shaft rotatablebeneath said stop` member and including a radial slot opening into oneside thereof for receiving said stop member therein to prevent rotationof said collar and permit said retaining bar to move downwardlyunder'the weight of articles to be dispensed when said stop member isaligned with said slot, and a spring on said chute connected to saidretaining bar and normally urging the same upwardly to returnA said barto a substantially horizontal article-retaining position determined bythe terminal end portion of said stop member.

3. A dispenser for vertically stacked articles comprising a verticallyextending chute defining `a vertical path of travel for the articles tobe dispensed, a Yvertically extending shaft rotatably supported on saidchute, a horizontal handle shaft extending through said chute andtowards said vertically extending shaft, said handle shaft having ahandle at one end thereof, said shaftsY having gears thereon to effect adriving relationship therebetween, and a plurality of verticallyl spaceddispenser mechanisms on said chute, each of said dispenser mechanismscomprising a carrier shaft extending horizontally across said chute andjournaled thereon, a bracket on said carrier shaft adjacent oppositeends thereof and extending into the chute toward said path of travel ofthe articles, a retaining bar on said brackets and extending parallel toand spaced from said carrier shaft, one of said brackets including anarm extending toward said vertically extending shaft and including anarcuate stopmember having lan abutment portion engageablewith said chuteto position said retaining bar in an article-retaining position in thepath of travel of said articles, a horizontally disposed collar on saidvertically extending shaft rotatable beneath said stop member andincluding aradial slot portion opening into one edge thereof forreceiving said stop member therein to prevent rotation of said collarand permit said retaining bar when subjected to the weight of articlesthereon to move downwardlyV out ofy the path of travel of said articles,and `a spring on said. chute connected -to said retaining bar andnormally urging said retaining bar upwardly whereby the abutment portionof said stop member will rengage said chute and dispose said retainingbar to an article retaining position, the radial slots in the collars ofthe respective dispenser mechanisms being in out-of phase, angularrelationship to permitserial dispensing of thearticles through saidvertically spaced dispensing mechanisms.

4. A dispenser for vertically stacked articles comprising a verticallyextending-chute defining a vertical' path of'travel for the :articles tobe dispensed, a vertically extending-shaft journaled in said chute,means on said chute to rotate said vertically extending shaft about itslongitudinal axis and a plurality of vertically spaced dispensermechanisms on said chute, each of said dispenser mechanisms comprising acarrier shaft extending horizontally across said chute and journaledthereon, brackets on said carrier shaft extending into said chute towardthe path of travel of said articles, a retaining bar on said bracketsand extending parallel to and in spaced relationship from said carriershaft, one of said brackets including an arm extending toward saidvertically extending shaft and including an arcuate stop member havingan abutment portion engageable with said chute for positioning saidretaining bar in a substantially horizontal article supporting position,a collar on said vertically extending shaft adjacent to and rotatablebeneath said stop member and having a radial slot therein alignable withsaid stop member for Ireceiving said stop member therein to preventrotation of said collar and permit said retaining bar when subject tothe Weight of the articles thereon to move out of the path of travel ofsaid articles to permit said articles to be dispensed, and a spring onsaid chute connected to said retaining bar and normally urging the sameupwardly to return said retaining bar to an article retaining positiondetermined by the stop mem-ber abutment portion.

5. A dispenser for vertically stacked articles comprising a verticallyextending chute defining a vertical path of travel for articles to bedispensed, a vertically extending shaft journaled in said chute, meanson said chute to rotate said shaft about its longitudinal axis, and aplurality of vertically spaced dispenser mechanisms on said chute, eachof said dispenser mechanisms comprising a horizontally disposed carriershaft journaled on said chute, bracket means on said carrier shaft, aretaining bar on said bracket means extending parallel to and spacedfrom and disposed in said chute beneath the path of travel of thearticles to be dispensed for supporting articles thereon, said bracketmeans including an arm extending into said chute toward said verticallyextending shaft and including an upwardly extending stop member havingan abutment portion engageable with said chute for positioning saidretaining bar in a substantially horizontal article retaining position,collar means on said vertically extending shaft rotatably beneath saidstop member and having a horizontally disposed slot portion thereinalignable with said stop member to permit the same to move therein forpreventing rotation of said collar means and to permit said retainingbar subject to the weight of articles thereon to move out of the path oftravel of said articles and to permit the articles to be dispensed, andspring means on said chute connected to said retaining bar to urge it toa normally horizontal position and move the same through the slotportion of said collar whereby the abutment portion of said stop memberpositions the retaining bar to its article retaining position, the slotsin the collars of the respective dispenser mechanisms being inout-of-phase angular relationship to permit articles dispensed by thedispenser mechanisms to be serially advanced downwardly through the pathof travel through the successive dispensing mechanisms.

6. A dispenser for vertically stacked articles comprising a verticallyextending chute defining a vertical path of travel yfor articles to bedispensed, a vertically extending shaft journaled in said chute, meansengaged with said shaft for rotating the shaft about its longitudinalaxis, and a plurality of vertically spaced dispenser mechanisms on saidchute, each of said dispenser mechanisms comprising a horizontallydisposed carrier shaft journaled on said chute, bracket means on saidcarrier shaft extending into .6 the chute toward the vertical path oftravel of the articles to be dispensed, a retaining bar on said bracketmeans and extending parallel to and in spaced relation from said carriershaft and positionable beneath the path of travel of the articles to bedispensed, said bracket means includ-r ing a portion extending towardsaid vertically extending' shaft and including a stop portion engageablewith said chute for positioning said rretaining bar inan articleretaining position in the vertical path of travel of said articles, saidvertically extending shaft including means adjacent to andvrotatablebeneath said stop portion and including a portion selectivelyengageable with said means to prevent rotation thereof and forpermitting the stop portion to have relative vertical movement theretofor permitting said retaining bar to move out of the vertical path oftravel of said articles when subject to the weight thereof to permitarticles to be dispensed, and spring means on said chute and connectedto said retaining bar normally urging said retaining bar to vanarticle-supporting position in the path of travel of said articleswhereby the stop portion of said bracket means engages said chute.

7. A dispenser for vertically stacked articles comprising a verticallyextending chute defining a vertical path of travel for the articles tobe dispensed, a vertically extending shaft journaled in said chute,means engageable with said shaft to rotate the shaft about itslongitudinal axis, anda plurality of vertically spaced dispensermechanisms in said chute, each of said dispenser mechanisms comprisingcarrier shaft means extending horizontally relative to the path oftravel defined by said chute, said carrier shaft means including aretaining bar means spaced therefrom and positionable in the path oftravel defined by said chute, said carrier shaft means including a meansprojecting toward the path of travel defined by said chute, said meansincluding a stop portion engageable with said chute for positioning saidretaining bar means in an article retaining position in said chute, saidvertically extending shaft including means rotatable beneath said stopportion and a portion alignable with said stop portion to preventrotation of said last mentioned means and permit the retaining bar meanswhen subject to weight of articles supported thereon to move downwardlyout of the path of travel defined by said chute to permit the articlesto be dispensed, and spring means on said chute connected to saidretaining bar means and normally urging the same into the path of traveldetined by said chute to retain articles thereon.

8. In a dispenser for vertically stacked articles comprising verticallyextending chute means defining a vertical path of travel for articles tobe dispensed, vertically disposed shaft means journaled in said chuteout of the path of travel defined thereby, means engageable with saidshaft means for rotating it about its longitudinal axis, and at leastone dispenser mechanism on said chute means, said dispenser mechanismincluding carrier shaft means journaled in said chute means out of thepath of travel defined thereby, said carrier shaft means includingretaining bar means extending radially from the axis of rotation of saidcarrier shaft means and positionable in the path of travel defined bysaid chute means, said carrier shaft means including means thereoncomprising a stop portion rotatable therewith and engageable with saidchute means for positioning said retaining bar means in an articleretaining position within the path of travel defined by said chutemeans, and spring means on said chute means in engagement with saidretaining bar means and normally urging the same to an article retainingposition against the weight of articles supported thereon, saidvertically extending shaft means including means rotatable therewithbeneath said stop portion and including a portion selectively engageablewith said stop portion during rotation of said vertical shaft means andpreventing rotation of said last mentioned means and shaft means andpermitting downward movement of said stop portion with respect to theportion on said last mentioned means to per- UNITED STATES Y 916,345Martin 1 7 Mar. 23, 1.909

8 Melchertrnff-Y-,Y-f- NQY- 19., 1.912 Paling etal. oy, 1 5, 192,7

' Nutt 1- APL 8, 169,30

